Pritzker sworn in at Commerce, Foxx prepares for DOT post

Friday, June 28, 2013

Pritzker

Penny Pritzker was sworn in this week as the 38th U.S. Commerce Department secretary.
She was nominated by President Obama to serve as commerce secretary on May 9. She is a civic and business leader with more than 25 years of experience in the real estate, hospitality, senior living, and financial services industries. Pritzker served as chief executive officer of PSP Capital Partners.
Obama appointed Pritzker to his Council for Jobs and Competitiveness, which formerly advised the administration on economic growth and job creation. She previously served on the President's Economic Recovery Advisory Board. She has also served on the boards of Hyatt Hotels Corp., Wm. Wrigley Jr. Co., Marmon Group and LaSalle Bank. She is past executive chairman of TransUnion, a global financial services information company.
On Thursday, the Senate unanimously voted to confirm Charlotte Mayor Anthony Foxx as the country’s next transportation secretary. He replaces outgoing Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood.
"I look forward to working closely with him on our greatest infrastructure challenges – from rebuilding ports and bridges to making our roads safer. I hope Mayor Foxx will be the broker we need to break the partisan gridlock so we can make critical investments that will preserve and strengthen our nation’s infrastructure,” said Senate Commerce Committee Chairman John D. Rockefeller in a statement.